Reinforcing Business Ethics in MedTech: The COVID-19 Pandemic Makes It More Essential

It’s always a good time to reinforce the importance of good business ethics. During a time of crisis like the global COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more essential.

Throughout the public health emergency, the medical technology industry has been working around the clock to ensure patients and providers on the front lines have the critical tools they need to prevent, detect and treat this disease. As we continue our vital work to end the pandemic, our industry’s long-standing commitment to the highest standards of business ethics has never been more important to our effectiveness and our success. That’s why, as chair of the AdvaMed Ethics & Compliance Committee, I’m asking every medtech company – AdvaMed members and non-members alike – to reaffirm and renew their commitment to the AdvaMed Code of Ethics.

The AdvaMed Code of Ethics, which was updated in January 2020, helps ensure that collaborative, beneficial relationships between medtech company representatives and health care providers (HCPs) always meet the highest ethical standards, and that health care decisions are always made in patients’ best interests.

During the coronavirus pandemic, media reports have included allegations of some non-member companies seeking to inappropriately profit from the crisis. These have ranged from instances of purported overcharging to alleged production of counterfeit equipment. Isolated reports have also suggested some medtech representatives may feel pressure to reach sales targets at any cost, or to offer free personal protective equipment to help make a sale. However isolated, such concerns can undermine our effectiveness as an industry. They underscore the need to reinforce our expectations that we operate with integrity under the AdvaMed Code.

Complementing the Code, AdvaMed issued guidance in May to address compliance concerns specific to the pandemic. Key topics addressed include ongoing contractual/legal obligations during a declared state of emergency; volunteer activity by company personnel; charitable donations including products, equipment, services, and/or financial support; virtual educational events; and other company processes. As stated in the guidance, when it comes to ongoing government oversight, there is no “coronavirus defense” for questionable practices.

I hope you’ll join me and other AdvaMed members in reaffirming your company’s commitment to collaborative relationships, business integrity and life-changing medtech innovation by signing the AdvaMed Code of Ethics today. To find out how, please click here, or reach out with questions to AdvaMed’s Nancy Travis at [email protected].

Thank you for doing your part to ensuring the highest standards of integrity in medtech.

 *Antoinette Gawin is President and CEO of Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, and Chair of the AdvaMed Committee on Ethics and Healthcare Compliance. AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.